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Match Reviews for
Toolstation NCEL Match Review 2017/18 #73
25th April, 2018
Nothing further was decided in the respective title, promotion and relegation battles in the Toolstation NCEL in Monday or Tuesday's matches but things became a little clearer as to who may be celebrating or in despair.
In the race to become Premier Division champion, second-placed Pontefract Collieries moved to within two points of leaders AFC Mansfield with three games in hand after a 4-2 victory at Bottesford Town.
Eli Hey and Aaron Moxam gave them a 2-0 lead by the interval and Spencer Clarke added a third before the hosts fought back to within a goal thanks to Lee Ridley and Nathan Stanton.
But, Moxam's second of the night on 80 minutes ensured three more vital points for the Colls who go to Mansfield in a mammoth match on Wednesday evening.
Pickering Town remain ready to pounce on any slip up by the top two as they won 3-1 at home to Thackley, Billy Logan, Ryan Blott and Bradley Freeer securing the victory after Matthew Broadley had given the visitors a first-half lead.
That closes the gap between the Pikes and the summit to five points with two matches more to play than the Bulls.
Two goals by Jonathan Hill helped Handsworth Parramore to a 3-1 defeat of away side Harrogate Railway Athletic to keep their slim promotion ambitions alive in fourth, six points away from the top two with three games to go.
The defeat was a hammer blow for the Rail who dropped into the relegation zone, overtaken by Hall Road Rangers who climbed to safety with a 4-1 home win over fellow strugglers Parkgate, Reagan Ward, Jack Binns, Daniel Norton and Joshua Batty netting for Rangers.
Brandon Bagley netted for the Steelmen who are now on the verge of relegation, knowing they have to win all five of their remaining matches to have a chance of finishing out of the bottom three.
A 5-2 victory at home for Athersley Recreation over Worksop Town, including a brace for Kai Hancock, means they move eight points clear of danger in eighteenth, two points from their last four games will be enough for survival.
Elsewhere, Barton Town stretched their unbeaten run to ten games as Joshua Tennant's late winner claimed a 1-0 victory over visitors Albion Sports whilst Liversedge are up to tenth after a 4-0 home triumph over Staveley Miners Welfare, Joshua Greenhalgh with a double for the hosts.
Sedge's game came twenty-four hours after a home clash with Hall Road Rangers was abandoned on 78 minutes with the score at 3-3 due to concerns over the wellbeing of striker Craig Billington who suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital.
He took to social media the following morning to thank everyone for their messages of support, to say that he was fine and that he will soon be back playing football.
In Division One, three teams are vying for the second promotion spot with just one point separating them with two games to go.
Grimsby Borough are in the best position after two goals each for Jack Debnam and Joshua Venney earned them a 4-0 home win over relegation-threatened Worsbrough Bridge Athletic to climb up into second.
Two goals from Ashley Flynn helped Yorkshire Amateur up into third as they won 5-2 at home to next-to-bottom Brigg Town with Eccleshill United now fourth and Shirebrook Town stay fifth as goals in the last ten minutes from Kieran Watson and Matthew Robinson claimed a 2-1 victory over visitors East Yorkshire Carnegie.
Shirebrook are just three points off second but will feel their chances of a top two finish are slim with one game to go and an inferior goal difference to the sides above them.
In the chase for the play-offs, Hallam now need to win their last two games to keep their hopes alive after a 4-3 loss at home to AFC Emley whilst Selby Town have to take maximum points from their final five matches following their 3-1 defeat to visitors Campion who ended their season with a win that has them currently seventh.
At the bottom, Brigg remain two points away from safety as the side just outside the drop zone FC Bolsover were also beaten, 4-2 at Dronfield Town, Mark Fereday twice amongst the goalscorers for the hosts.
And, those defeats for Worsbrough and Carnegie mean they are still looking over their shoulder at the trapdoor, four and five points clear respectively.
Elsewhere, Swallownest's aim of a top-half finish was boosted by a 3-2 victory at Armthorpe Welfare, Joshua Blake's last gasp winner keeping them eleventh in the table ahead of Emley whose campaign has now come to an end.
Meanwhile, a hat-trick from Nicholas Guest helped AFC Mansfield to a 4-1 win at Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the Quarter-Finals of this season's League Cup, meaning the Bulls join Bridlington Town as the only teams so far into the last four.